How much is 1 kWh?

The kWh is actually two measurements in one: speed and time. Wattage measures how fast a particular appliance uses electricity, and time measures how long that electricity is being consumed at that speed.

So, if you multiply the hours used by the wattage of the appliance, then divide by 1,000, you get the kWh measurement.

What does 1 kWh of electricity actually look like?

Calculations are all fine and good, but what about some real-world examples?

Before we list out a few here, just think of it this way: you can calculate the kWh usage of any device as long as you know the wattage. Often, the wattage is printed on the device itself. Just take that number, multiply it by how long you are using the device, and then divide that number by 1,000.

Now, if you want some specific examples, here are a few examples of 1 kWh in action:

Charging your phone for 2 hours/day over the course of a month

Brewing 12 pots of coffee

Running the microwave for 2 minutes every day for a month

Operating two desktop computers during a standard workday

Operating six laptop computers during a standard workday

Running a 60-watt light bulb from sunup to sundown

Cooling off a room with one medium window air conditioner for 1 hour

Track your usage and save.

Now that you understand how the kWh is measured, you can do a much more accurate job of understanding how your energy usage impacts your bill.

We help you save on your energy bill, while using clean energy.

If you are looking to reduce your bill, you can look at the activities that you do on a daily basis that add up over time. Knowing that helps you make decisions on which activities to cut or reduce.

The result? You can maximize the impact your activities have on your bill - and on your wallet. Those tweaks won’t be made by guessing the cost. Instead, you can conduct a full, detailed energy audit in your own home without having to pay a consultant.

Knowing your energy bill puts the power in your hands (no pun intended). Take a few minutes to understand how many kWh’s your daily appliances and devices are using, and then you can start picking and choosing what to unplug and turn off during the day to keep your bill under control.